The University of Iowa Symphony Band and Chamber Winds will perform a free concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, in the Second Floor Ballroom of the Iowa Memorial Union.

The program, conducted by faculty member Richard Mark Heidel and UI School of Music alumnus Ernest Jennings, will include Olympic Fanfare and Theme by John Williams, Pale Blue on Deep by UI School of Music composition doctoral student Aaron Perrine, El Salon Mexico by Aaron Copland, Turbine by John Mackey (conducted by Jennings), Adagio para orquesta de instrumentos de viento by Joaquin Rodrigo, Cuban Overture by George Gershwin, and The Circus Bee by Henry Fillmore.

Heidel is director of bands and associate professor in the School of Music. In addition to conducting the Symphony Band, he teaches graduate courses in conducting and wind band literature, guides the graduate band conducting program, and oversees the UI band program.

Ensembles under Heidel’s direction have performed at state, regional, and national conferences including those of the College Band Directors National Association, Music Educators National Conference, Wisconsin Music Educators Association, Illinois Music Educators Association, National Band Association-Wisconsin Chapter, and Iowa Bandmasters Association. He has also led concert tours to Ireland and England as well as throughout the Midwest.

Jennings, assistant director of marching band and percussion resource coordinator at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, completed his Master of Arts in percussion performance as a student of UI School of Music faculty member Dan Moore.

In addition to his percussion graduate work, Jennings studied conducting with Myron Welch, director of bands emeritus. Prior to graduate study, Jennings taught public school at Des Moines North and East High Schools, where he conducted concert, marching, and jazz bands. Jennings is an advocate of music education and has been active as a clinician, adjudicator, percussion instructor/arranger, and performer throughout the Midwest.

The School of Music is part of the Division of Performing Arts in the UI College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. For more information or accommodations at the concert, contact the School of Music at 319-335-1603. For a UI arts calendar and details about upcoming events visit the new Arts Iowa website.